Wednesday, January 30, 2008

1. What was Harry dreaming about the first time he woke up with his scar on fire?b. Voldemort and Wormtail plotting to kill him

2. What is the problem with leprechaun gold?a. It vanishes after a few hours

3. Why did Mad-Eye Moody turn Malfoy into a ferret?c. Malfoy attached Harry when Harry's back was turned

4. Sirius warns Harry to be careful around Karkaroff because he had been a Death Eater. Which one of the professors at Hogwarts, who also used to be a Death Eater, is frequently bothered by Karkaroff? Snape

5. Voldemort could have used the blood from any foe to make the potion that revived him work, but he held out for Harry's blood. Why?c. The special protection Harry received from his mother would also pass to Voldemort

6. How old would Frank have been on his next birthday?d. 77

7. Amos Diggory works for?b. The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures

8. Who shared a carriage with the three friends on the way from the train to Hogwarts?Answer: Neville

9. What date in October did the delegates from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang arrive?a. 30th

Perhaps I need to work on a spell or charm to clone myself. Between teaching, grading assignments and caring for one sick child and watching the other get sick, it's been quite busy and I've not had time to post. So here I am, and just in time for HSKS Homework. Am working on the answers - to be posted shortly.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

My wee daughter seems to be suffering a muggle virus, along with a fever. I portkeyed home, dosed her with a fever charm and some cocoa. While she was resting on the sofa, I decided to conjure some banana bread with toblerone bits. It turned out quite well and I shall bring some to the next Ravenclaw gathering (since I missed the last one).

On the knitting front, time to move on with more pieces of the bag, then assembly and felting! Back to Hogwarts for class tomorrow morning.

Monday, January 21, 2008

I've been enjoying the start of term. Our students are settling in and settling down a bit. And while I miss nurturing the Transfiguration abilities of all student, I must note those of the Weasley twins in days gone past (and I do miss Fred). I shall not missing seeing the results of their creativity. I'm hoping that we don't see any further evidence of purchases from Weasleys' Wizardly Wheezes in Diagon Alley. I passed by someone's molted feathers from a close encounter with a Canary Cream only this morning!

On to other events - the Hogwarts Swap. I was pleased to see CliodnaHopkirk won the Ravenclaw Quiz from last week. Well done! I am working on an enchanting felted bag - a pattern I stumbled onto while working on some mittens from the same book. I'm working with a yarn I've not yet felted before. I suppose I must swatch before finishing the bag, to make sure it doesn't felt too much.

I just got back from a Muggle grocery store, one I stopped at prior to taking a portkey back from our family home in Christmas Island. The grocery had an irresistible looking black forest cake. I'm one for any dark chocolate and fruit combination, so into my shopping sack went the cake. Now if only I can resist it until Wednesday night's get together in the Ravenclaw common room. I'm interesting in hearing what everyone thought the answer to the riddle we received with today's owl is....

3. Name the housemate who likes to knit with peacock feathers.Fleur Lovegood

4. Name the Ravenclaw who spent the New Year at Hogwart's Costume Ball.Emma Diggory

5. Which Ravenclaw got the first howler?Lavender Ackerly

6. Name 5 different types of wood used in the wands of Ravenclaws and name the housemate having that wand.Hawthorn/Elanor Cadigan; Holly/Minerva Kwikspell; walnut/Gabriella Clearwater; Birch (also Ebony)/Perpetua Phoenixfire; cherry/Avada Finch Fletchley

I was most pleased to come across into Miss Finch-Fletchley earlier today, and get a peek at her syllabus for her class, Enchanted Kit Planning. Clearly, she's put quite a bit of thought into it, to include many different Kit spoilers, and spoilees. I meant to ask her which house Professor Black is in, perhaps Gryffindor, like his cousin Sirius.

Today was my first Transfiguration class, and I'm hoping a couple of students, who shall remain nameless, in one case improve their ability, and in the other, improve their attitude.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Well, I'm back to Hogwarts for a temporary teaching assignment in Transfiguration until a full time professor is located. I must pack myself up, including books, teaching materials and knitting. I've heard there was a terrible mess in Ravenclaw. Perhaps someone has cast a Drought Charm to clear things up. I'm hoping my room is dry. I've also learned that there is a Magic in Threadwork in Weaving class ... I may sit in on a session, if I'm not to busy with lessons and grading. It sounds quite wonderful.

I note here that I'm now part of a Ravenclaw knitting group and there's some activities planned, with other houses. I even have a mystery person with whom I'm to swap fiber goodness. How wonderful! Time, perhaps, to work a confundo charm? Accio needles!

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Dinner tonight was pasta and meat sauce, a favorite of mine while a Hogwarts student. Delicious on a chilly winter night. The sauce recipe is a handme down from my husband's Aunt, a first generation Italian-American. It was even better the second night (like tonight's leftovers!), sopped up with crusty bread. Here's the recipe if you are interested:

Use a medium to large saucepan (3-6 qts). Sautee the onions, celery and garlic in a bit of olive oil until tender. Remove from pan and set aside. Sautee the beef in the same pan, in 1/2 cup of red wine, breaking up the beef into smaller bits. Drain the beef when cooked, place the sauteed veggies, tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, and tomato sauce in the pot. Stir together and let simmer on low for (at least) 20 mins (no lid). Add remaining wine and herbs, simmer another 20 mins or longer, if desired. You can fudge the amounts of solids to tomato products, depending if you like your sauce chunkier rather than saucier (I'm a saucy girl, and like the sauce chunky).

Serve hot, with grated parmesan to pass, along with 1-2 lbs cooked pasta. Recipe may be halved, or you can freeze half if there is too much for one meal :)

Post prandial parental rant: My two children, one a second year at Hogwarts (Ravenclaw, of course!) and my other child is at a Muggle school in second grade. Despite their gap in ages, it seems they find much to quibble about (almost a 1/2 hour straight of bickering over the top of some Nickolodeon program). So off went the television and everyone is upstairs in their respective rooms. Blissful quiet for blogging.